Linklaters has advised the private equity firm Montagu on the acquisition of a majority stake in DQS Holding GmbH. The sellers are a consortium of shareholders comprising product certification provider UL Solutions, DGQ e.V., DIN e.V., and the industry associations VDMA e.V., Spectaris e.V., HDB e.V. and ZVEI e.V..
DQS is a leading global provider of certification and business assurance services, serving more than 20,000 clients in over 60 countries. The company supports organisations across a wide range of industries in meeting regulatory requirements, strengthening trust with customers and stakeholders and improving operational performance.
The transaction positions DQS for further growth in a fragmented and resilient global market for certification and business assurance services. A particular focus is on the continued expansion of technology enabled offerings, including addressing growing demand for AI related certification solutions.
Completion of the transaction is subject to customary regulatory and governmental approvals.
Linklaters’ Private Capital team regularly advises Montagu, most recently on the acquisition of Multifonds from Temenos and on the sale of a minority stake in Universal Investment to CPP Investments.
An international cross-practice team led by Dr Ralph Drebes advised Montagu on the transaction. Other team members included partners Dr Kerstin Wilhelm (Compliance, Munich), Dr Christian Hundeshagen (Tax, Frankfurt), Matthew Devey, Dr René Döring (both Employment, Frankfurt), Dr Carl Sanders (Private Capital, Frankfurt), Dr Jana Hager (Public Law, Berlin), Oliver Sceales (Leveraged Finance, London); counsels Zila Acosta Grimes (Financial Regulation, New York), Sean Solomon (Litigation, Arbitration & Investigations, Washington, D.C.); managing associates Dr Johannes Porsch (Private Capital, Frankfurt), Thomas Bernard (Tax, Frankfurt), Cecilia Drepper (IP, Frankfurt), Jacqueline Engineer (Compliance, Munich), Lars Harzmeier (Litigation, Arbitration & Investigations, Frankfurt), Shruti Subramaniam (Banking, London), Sinziana Ianc (Antitrust & Foreign Investment Group, Dusseldorf); and associates Anna Tamara Castaner Coll (Private Capital, Frankfurt), Sophie Laureen Schneider (Corporate/M&A, Frankfurt), Laura Dürr, Juliane Kwasniok (both Employment, Frankfurt), Arthur Weilert (Tax, Frankfurt), Oliver Haas (Antitrust & Foreign Investment Group, Dusseldorf), Dr Thomas Kienle (TMT, Frankfurt), Thalea Dreke (IP, Frankfurt), Felix Wichert (TMT, Frankfurt) and Florian Kopp (Public Law, Berlin).
In addition, further lawyers from Linklaters offices in Beijing, London, Luxembourg, New York, Shanghai, Tokyo and Washington, D.C. were involved.
